If you want to distinguish your goods, services (or both) from those of another business, you may need a trade mark. Find out what trade marks are and what’s involved in the application and management process.

If you are a self filer, attorney or a Qualified Person (QP) –this is the place to find our examination manuals, FAQs, case studies, search tools and more to help you further understand and research intellectual property.

Who can use B2B?

B2B is designed for IP practitioners who handle very large volumes of IP submissions. You need to develop an interface to IP Australia’s B2B system, so it is not suitable for casual or occasional users.

What hardware do I need for B2B?

The MFT software that B2B uses requires an Intel-based computer with 1 Gb RAM and 100 Mb disk space, as well as any additional storage for files and archives.

What software do I need for B2B?

The MFT software works on a Windows-based PC. You will need to install additional software to support the development of your B2B interface and the construction of XML files for transmission.

Does my server need to be dedicated to B2B?

No. The server does not have to be exclusively dedicated to B2B operations, nor is it necessary to for it to be up 24/7. You can send files to IP Australia at any time convenient to you. If your system goes down, IP Australia will wait until it comes up again before attempting to send you files.

Who do I contact if I have issues?

What happens when a schema version is updated?

Schema are published on the IP Australia website. When a schema version is updated, the previous version will remain available. We will notify customers when updates are released.

How do I pay for transactions I submit using B2B?

You need to set up a direct debit authority to use the B2B channel. Each request processed through B2B is charged through direct debit.

How wilI know that my files were received by IP Australia?

For a successful transmission, you will receive an initial acknowledgement message returned in an XML format with a status set to “SUCCESS”, including details of the date and time of receipt of your batch. After validation, you also receive a validation report file in XML which includes fee charge details for all service request renewals.

How will I know what fees are charged for each transaction if I submit a batch with multiple requests?

The fee for each transaction and the total amount is itemised on the validation report, an XML file sent back to you after validation. Individual amounts and the total are both named with a batch identifier which will also be included in details sent to your bank and which you can use for reconciliation purposes.

How do I use the digital certificate?

Details of setting up and implementing the digital certificate are provided in the

How long does it take to renew my digital certificate?

IP Australia will send you a reminder message through B2B three months before your current digital certificate expires. After you receive your new certificate, you should send it to IP Australia at least one month before expiry. This will allow time to validate and test the new certificate and ensure a seamless transition.

Where can I find the trade marks classifications for including in my B2B request?

If I have two servers, do I need to have two different digital certificates and a copy of the TIBCO MFT Platform Server software for each?

If your organisation has two servers, you can use the same digital certificate for both. However, you will need to install a separate copy of the MFT Platform Server software on each to connect to IP Australia's B2B system. The MFT Platform Server software is provided free of charge by IP Australia under a licencing agreement with TIBCO.